UAE wait to find out punishment after crowd trouble during Qatar World Cup qualifier

Cosmin Olaroiu intimates that anger felt by travelling supporters may have stemmed from a perceived unfairness at way the play-off was organised

UAE's World Cup hopes suffered a big blow as they were beaten 2-0 by Qatar at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on October 14, 2025. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dejected UAE defender Kouame Autonne after the match. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu and Marcus Meloni after the match. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Tarek Salman of Qatar is sent off late in the game. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Sultan Adil after a missed opportunity. AFP

Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi, left, celebrates after scoring their first goal. AP

Dejected UAE players after the first Qatar goal. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Boualem Khoukhi celebrates after scoring for Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Boualem Khoukhi heads home to put Qatar 1-0 up. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Essa during the first half. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Marcus Meloni and Mohammad Naceur Al Mannai of Qatar battle for the ball. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Qatar4's Mohammad Naceur Al Mannai after a chance goes begging. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE manager Cosmin Olaroiu during the game against Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Qatar's Mohammad Al Mannai is shown a yellow card by referee Ilgiz Tantashev. Reuters

Qatar manager Julian Lopetegui is helped to his feet after being hit in the head by the ball. AFP

The UAE team starting XI before the against Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE players line up during the national anthems before the match. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans before the game against Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans before the game against Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fans outside the National Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium in Doha. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE supporters at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. AFP

UAE fans in the National Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium in Doha. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE fan outside the National Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium in Doha. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE face a wait to find out what punishment they might face after the crowd violence which marred their World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha.

Qatar qualified for a second successive World Cup after beating the national team 2-1 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday night.

The result put the hosts top of the three-team play-off, which guaranteed direct progress to the finals in North America next year.

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The UAE could yet qualify, but they have an increasingly complex route to make it. First, they will face Iraq in two matches, at home and away, next month.

If they progress from that tie, they will enter an intercontinental play-off with five sides from other confederations around the world.

Their participation in that, though, could be dependent on whatever disciplinary action the Asian Football Confederation or Fifa take against them for the unrest in Doha.

After Boualem Khoukhi celebrated Qatar’s opening goal in front of the away section of supporters, enraged UAE fans threw sandals, as well as plastic bottles and cups, onto the field.

As the security personnel, as well as some UAE players, tried to restore order, one of the Qatar coaching staff was hit in the back by an object.

The match eventually restarted, but when Pedro Miguel scored the second and also made a beeline for the UAE fans, the violence escalated.

This time the melee even involved two people wearing green bibs of officially accredited photographers. One had thrown his shoe at the players, before becoming involved in a physical altercation.

The moment incited several supporters to jump the barriers and enter the field of play, while the police fought to restore order. As it was happening, more bottles, cups and shoes were raining onto the field.

The anger spread to other sections of the ground. After the play was restarted, objects were also thrown from areas of Qatar supporters.

The scene was reminiscent of the unrest which accompanied Qatar’s win over the UAE in the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

That incident saw the UAE receive a fine and ordered to play one match behind closed doors. The repeat offence in Doha could prompt sanctions for the Iraq fixtures.

Neither the UAE Football Association or its Qatari counterpart has commented on the events, and it is unclear if any arrests were made.

Cosmin Olaroiu, the UAE coach, did not single out UAE fans for criticism, saying, “It happened from both sides. It was not OK, but what can we do?”

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The UAE coach went on to intimate that the anger felt by the travelling supporters may have stemmed from a perceived unfairness at the way the play-off was organised.

UAE supporters were given just eight per cent of tickets for the game against Qatar – although it appeared as though far more actually made it inside the stadium.

The UAE section of the ground was packed beyond capacity, with many watching the game while stood in gangways and aisles.

Olaroiu said the arrangements, including home advantage for Qatar – who finished below the UAE in the previous round of qualifying – as well as a shorter turnaround for his side, had been unfair.

Qatar had six days between their matches against Oman and the UAE, while the national team had just three between their two games.

“When you play these kinds of tournaments, all teams should have an equal chance,” Olaroiu said.

“It was very simple. This group should be playing in Saudi [where Saudi Arabia eventually won a similar play-off involving Iraq and Indonesia] and that group should play here.

“That way everybody would have an equal chance. Nobody would play a home game in front of their fans, and take 80-90 per cent of the tickets.

“It was very simple, just to put it in different [neutral countries]. In the beginning of the competition they say that third place [in the previous round of qualifying] will host the group.

“We reached third place, and we play away because it was decided like this. And they decide who plays first, who plays third, and everything.

“But now, it’s too late. What can we do? We have to look at our mistakes, and things we did and didn’t do.

“I don’t want to come here and say this and that. It is obvious to everyone, but now we cannot change this. They got their target.”

Qatar's Ahmed Fathi celebrates with coach Julen Lopetegui after the game against UAE. Reuters

Julen Lopetegui, the Qatar coach, said the passion of supporters was understandable, but that the unrest was unacceptable.

“We have to avoid this kind of situation,” Lopetegui said. “These are dangerous things that we have to avoid.

“We all want to see passion supporting teams, and to celebrate, but we have to avoid this kind of behaviour. Football is one sport that joins countries and people.”